Diversity and Halifax Regional Police

Respecting diversity is a core value at Halifax Regional Police and an integral component of our Vision, "To build and maintain confidence, trust and safety in partnership with our communities."

Police Diversity Working Group

The Police Diversity Working Group (PDWG) is a working group of Halifax Regional Police and the Halifax District Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It is dedicated to fostering police organizational change through inclusion and respect while improving relationships between police and the communities through demographic, cultural and geographic representation. More information can be found on the working group's web page.

Diversity training at Halifax Regional Police

The bias-free training curriculum at Halifax Regional Police was designed with Nova Scotia’s Department of Justice to provide all of our officers with training in dealing with implicit bias and how that may manifest in the policing context. Halifax Regional Police also offers specific cultural awareness training opportunities to its officers.  

Equity and Diversity Officer

Contact Constable Craig Upshaw at upshawcr@halifax.ca.

Constable Craig Upshaw is the Equity and Diversity Officer for Halifax Regional Police, a position he has held since November 2020. He started his career with Halifax Regional Police in 2001. Prior to taking on this role, Constable Upshaw was with the integrated Criminal Investigation Division where he served in a variety of units and sections.

Before he became a police officer, Constable Upshaw worked for eight years with the Saskatchewan Government as a Social Worker and Youth Counsellor specializing in family-based developmental counselling. He continues to focus his efforts and time on youth engagement through his volunteer roles. He’s been a guest speaker at schools and camps across Nova Scotia where he promotes anti-bullying and shares his lived experiences. He also coaches junior mini basketball, junior high school basketball and was the assistant coach for the Acadia Axemen. He held Vice-Chair on West Hants Community Board and previously sat on Saskatchewan Provincial Visible Minorities Board.

Constable Upshaw completed several courses at Acadia University and continues to expand his professional development through new training programs and opportunities. He is passionate about working with the community to build relationships and programs to help move policing forward. 

2003 Human Rights Decision Recommendations

As recommended in a 2003 Human Rights Decision, Halifax Regional Police hired two consulting firms - Das Management & Educational Services and Perivale + Taylor - to conduct a needs assessment of our current policies and practices on anti-racism education and diversity training.